THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411030165
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Star of the Sea, a Catholic church that has been a fixture on the resort Oceanfront for 79 years, is undergoing a $1.4-million expansion that will be completed sometime in August.
Demolition of the central - or worship and commons areas - began on Labor Day weekend, following on the heels of extensive renovations to the adjoining church school, cafeteria and gymnasium.
Sections of the church entrance and a middle section remain standing while workmen for E.T. Gresham Co. Inc., a Norfolk contractor, begin rebuilding the interior portion of the structure.
``The building was in disrepair and some of the original material had deteriorated,'' said Jean Choplinsky, director of religious education for the church. ``We also needed a larger commons area.''
In addition to the commons area, new construction will enlarge the chapel and include new bathrooms.
Choplinsky said the expansion will enlarge the chapel area to make room for 650 worshipers - plus a spillover of 150 to 180 - in an area once limited to 525 people.
``The church was built in the form of a cross,'' Choplinsky said. ``Now it will be fan shaped.''
The church and adjoining school and rectory are on Pacific Avenue, at 15th Street. It was founded in 1915 as a mission to Virginia Beach from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Norfolk.
In 1925, Star of the Sea became a separate congregation, and in 1958 a school for youngsters, from kindergarten through the eighth grade, was added. In 1967 a gymnasium was constructed on the church property.
The south wing of the church was built in 1961, the north wing in 1963 and a rectory for the church pastors was completed in 1962. A lake that separated the church front from Pacific Avenue was filled and paved in 1964 to provide additional parking for parishioners.
The church congregation numbers about 1,100 families, said Choplinsky.
The pastor for the past 11 years has been the Rev. Raymond T. McIntyre. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
Sections of the Star of the Sea Catholic Church entrance and a
middle section remain standing while workmen for E.T. Gresham Co.
Inc., a Norfolk contractor, begin rebuilding the interior of the
structure.
by CNB